In the grand hall of the Nymph Castle, a maiden was walking purposefully to her destination. Her gold gown shimmered when caught in the sun's beams, entering the hall from the dome-shaped windows. Her footsteps were hurried but quiet as her dainty shoes glided lightly on the thick red carpet below. Rows and rows of majestic paintings lined the walls. Her ancestors looked down upon her from their frozen perches in the polished frames along the length of the hall. A short burst of wind snaked in from a window to her right and she smiled as the sweet fragrance of Magnolias reached her nostrils.

If it would have been another time Princess Iris Fletcher would have stopped then to enjoy the mesmerizing sight of the blossomed Magnolias in the gardens below. The pearly white blossoms glowed like Full Moon against the backdrop of their glossy green foliage. But this was not the time. Iris tightened her hold on her gathered skirt and took the remaining steps to the King's sitting chamber.

Mark Fletcher the King of the Wood Nymphs was immersed in a report about the final preparations of the Belladonna festival when a guard announced his sister's arrival. Mark bemused with brotherly affection as he stood up to open his beloved younger sibling.

"Aha! How are you doing my dear", he said as Iris entered his room.

"I am very well, dear brother. I hope I did not interrupt something urgent." Iris added as she saw papers lying across his desk.

"Not at all. I was just checking the report about the Belladonna festival. I believe someone is very excited about their first maiden festival," Mark chuckled in the end.

"Oh! Indeed brother. Actually, I came here to take your permission about something", Iris said as she joined Mark on the soft armchair by the coffee table.

"Ahan...and by this you mean it is something unusual I presume", Mark finished as he observed her expressions. Though Iris tried to keep a solemn face, Mark sensed something was bothering her.

"Ah... yes. You see, Sasha has a distant cousin, and this cousin wants to visit our kingdom and meet her on the night of Belladonna festival", Iris trailed off in the end gauging her brother's reaction.

"Hmm... so you want me to allow this young lad, a distant cousin, you said, to enjoy the festival with her? Mark made a thoughtful face as he processed the request of his sister.

Iris looked at him imploringly, praying that he allows her maid to have a foreign companion on the eve of the festival.

"I will allow it for your sake, but you have to promise me something in return", Mark told her with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Oh, thank you brother. I will do anything in return", Iris was relieved to hear his approval.

Mark knew it was the best way to do this, "There will be a guest of mine visiting the festival from Sky kingdom. If you promise me you will look after him during the festival, I will allow your maid to have a companion."

"Of course! I assure you I will be the best hostess in the whole universe", Iris exclaimed as she grinned.

A short while later, Iris was telling Sasha about her successful negotiation. She had a gleam to her eyes as she said triumphantly "So you can take your cousin around the festival Sasha."

Sasha however had a confused expression as she said, "But, my lady! I do not have any cousin who might want to visit me."

"Sure, you have. His name is Ethan", Iris answered to a shocked Sasha.

Sasha was feeling cornered. She disliked that dragon spirit so much and now she had to act like he was her cousin in front of everyone in the festival. She would not have done it for anyone else, but it was Iris, her lady who had asked her to do this. Sasha could jump in the fire for Iris without blinking if the need ever arises, so acting friendly with that dragon was not such a hard task though distasteful at the same time.

On the bright side, this will be the last time she would be seeing that or any of the dragons for that matter. As Iris explained that Sasha can guide him to the city gate in the pretense of bidding farewell to her cousin after a quick tour of the city. Sasha was starting to feel happy about the prospect after all, as this could mean her lady would be free from the clutches of him and would no longer be in any jeopardy. She was standing at the door of the Solarium now, delivering a message from Iris to Ethan.

Ethan was pacing in the room waiting for the twelve gongs to be heard from the internal palace. The gongs sound every hour as they were enchanted to keep track of time inside the palace. He stopped once his eye caught the green paper again. He unfolded the paper and scanned its contents once more.

A single line was written in a neat cursive hand:

"Meet me at the same place, you saw me last time after the gong of twelve."

He was still looking at the note when the gong started to sound. He threw the note in the burning flames of the fireplace as he made his way to the Enchanted garden.

Walking in the moonlight he remembered that night when he transformed into his true form. The memory of an innocent beauty brought a smile to his lips. He was walking along the path to the Dragon fountain. The fountain that if discovered by anyone might cause trouble for Iris, but she had a bigger problem to conceal beside that marble dragon, a living and breathing dragon who she was keeping hidden under her sole protection. Ethan was lost in his thoughts about her selflessness and courage as he reached the fountain.

The water was flowing noiselessly, perhaps it was another enchantment to keep the fountain hidden. The silvery water was making ripples but no sound as it flowed from the mouth of the dragon to the base of the pool. A cloaked figure was standing there. The midnight blue fabric of her cloak was twinkling in the moonlight as if she had sewed stars in her dress. She heard his footsteps then and turned towards his approaching self with a slight smile appearing on her face.

Ethan was once again mesmerized by her delicate features and her angelic smile. She was as irresistible to her human eyes as she was to her dragon eyes that night.  He reached near her and bowed.

"My lady!"

"Mr. Ethan! I am so happy to tell you that I have devised a way for your return," Iris finished in an excited tone.

Ethan looked at her with gratitude as relief flooded his features, "Thank you so much, my lady. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness."

He was sincerely grateful as his discreet departure was essential for both of their safety. 

Iris told him about the details of her plan and he nodded in agreement as she concluded.

"This will definitely work my lady."

"This is our only chance too", Iris said with conviction.

"My lady I...." Ethan trailed off as suddenly a loud gong sounded from the inner palace. 

Hi all,

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